Electric rectifier



Feb. 3, 1942. zAccHl-:o ETAL 2,272,104

ELECTRIC RECTIFIER 'Filed June 29, l1940 Frdz'nwyo Z900/760 9 -V I )6b for ALM ; e, .Mw

' ing the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar view ,illustrating a modifica- -able for this purpose, providedithat they vfor pure compared with the 'known Patented Feb. 3, 1942 Ferdinando Zaccheoand Victor Willson, Rome, It

' 'Application-June 2 9, 194o, ser`ii No. 343,304.

In Great Britain October 13, 1939 s claims. (c1. vris- 366)- The present -invention relates to rectiers and more specifically pertains to acombination of 'materials for rectifying alternating'current;

An object o f this in vention'is to provide a static dry rectier for converting alternating electric current into directeur-rent, the ,main feature of which is the use of materials other than copper oxide, the latter being generally made use'of in like devices.

OtherI andfurther the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the annexed drawing and the following description wherein -seve ments ofthe invention are/disclosed.

In thedrawng:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view-o f a recuserembgdytion. In the same man ne'r'as in lthe known types-,the

' vrectii'ler according to this invention is made up with a. number of elements connected together both mechanically and electrically. Each V\ele ment consists of an electrode I, preferably formed of a nickel vplate of any suitable shape, coated on one side with a layer of selenium oxide 2; o n this layer a -second layer'is superimposed.' made of zinc, which forms a counter-electrode. 3.

In the electrode the ni Vkel plate ac support forlthe selenium oxide layer, thelatter objects and features of' tsonly as al.

. vvolts ior each element. With-the usual bridge L connection a virtual voltage of 22 volts-may be applied to each bridge, and a direct voltage of 17 volts mayfbe obtained on the direct. current side.- It will be noted, howeventhat, with an alternatfords the advantage subjected to a voltagel not exceeding virtual ingcurrentvoltag'e of 22 volts, the direct current ral exemplary embodi While the invention hasbeen .described forth vin the` appended claims.

'outputv'pltage may exceed -17 volts and maybe raised up to 19.5 volts by properly choosing the materials for the active layer.

reference to specific structuraldetails it `is aP- parentthat changesV may be made therein. v Such modiiications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theyinvention as set -We claim: r 1. A static dry rectiiier for con prising an electrode c onsisting oi a plate made of nickel; an active or rectifying layerl coating one side. of the electrodewhich layer .consists of being the active material, or the. partwhich really rectiiles the current.v Therefore the plate need nbt be made of nickel throughout its entire 1 thickness, it being suilicient thatthis metaltorms only the outside surface 5 as shown in'Flg, 2 which directly contacts theV 'selenium oxide 2,

owing'to thefact that nickel is unacted upon by' said oxide and atmospheric. 'agents. -It is generally advisable to make said electrode-with anA inexpensive metal, such as nickel plated iron.y

Also several alloys and "other materialsvare 'suitg suiiicient conductivity and strength.

Moreover, it is not necessarily required-that the' active layer 2 shouldbejmade exclusively of sele' nium oxide but oxides of metals belonging to the. selenium'group according'to- Mendelefls periodic system or elements, may be added to said oxide.

The-metals belongingtothis group include telluri.

neodimium andselenium. Other compounds.' be further-substituted foror -added to these oxides, suchfas binary. ternary, quaternarycompounds, or even compounds in-` um, of such metals may 'cluding' .more than four components.

' Ina like manner zinc, cadmiumand` mercury belonging to the 'zinc group oi.' metals, or even metals of this group. may be substituted v zinc in the counter-electrode l.

The rectiiier according to this invention, as

imm?

ythe 'same group aselectrodel consisting of belonging to the same group as Mendeleeis periodic system-of elements superselenium oxide; a counter-electrode consistmg of -a layer vof zinc"supe1posed on said rectiiying layer;

v2.-.A statiddry reotiiler for convertingalternating electric current inwdire'ct current com' n u prisingan electrode consisting 4oi! a platemade of any suitable material plated with nickel; an active or rectifying layer coating lone side o! the electrode whichlayer consists of selenium oxide associated with oxides of other elements belonging to the same grcup asselenium according -to Mendeleei'fs periodic system' of elements; a

counter-electrode .consisting of a layer of metals belonging to the. same group as zinc according to Mendeleeis 'periodic system of elements'super-- posed on said rectifying layer.

.3. A s tic dry rectifier for converting alter- 'nating electric current into 'direct current com prising an electrode consisting of any -suitablev material plated with nickel; an' :active or rectiiying layer coating one side of the electrode which layer consists of selenium -oxide associated with any suitable compounds of elements belonillgv to to MandeleeiITs periodic system of elements;= acounterfal layer or alloys of metals on 'said rectii'yir igl layer.

. 'vrc'roawnrson that it may be subjected to a higher-voltage for each element, this 4voltage :being allowed to reach and' even exceed the virtual value of llvolts on the alternating current side', while copper oxide rectifiers may only be.

with..

verting euery nating electric current into direct current com zinc according to- 

